LEWES
The Virden Retreat Center
Open year-round to the public
Our coastal venue is a full-service campus with indoor/outdoor dining, onsite accommodations, and open lawns surrounded by the serenity of protected wetlands.
The Virden Retreat Center
Quiet. Intimate. Uncomplicated.
Plentiful sun and sea air make UD’s Virden Center an exceptional venue for social events, retreats, weddings, and small meetings.
Virden was designed to imbue the coastal vibe with an easy and open layout – indoors and out. Our modest size ensures quick responsiveness from our staff.
Details:
- Six meeting rooms
- Tented patio
- Video conferencing
- Full registration and planning services
- Catering
- Free Parking
- Overnight Accommodations
- ADA Compliant
Virden Guestrooms
Comfy. Quiet. Private.
An easy stroll from our conference venue is Virden’s on-site accommodations. We have 23 well-appointed guestrooms with queen and twin bed configurations, each with a private bath.
There is also a Hospitality Room with a kitchenette available for use as an adjoining suite to an overnight room or as a gathering place for after-meeting socializing.
And finally, end your day surrounded by the tranquility of the wetlands as you relax on your screened-in porch.
Take advantage of everything our Lewes Campus has to offer.
Expansive grounds and intimate spaces
We encourage guests to make the most of our indoor/outdoor capability–especially dining–during three of the four seasons. Wedding parties, celebrationers, yoga retreat participants, and meeting members can comfortably and easily move about the campus.
During the off-season, the coastal vibe chills to an easy and enjoyable work/life balance.
Weddings at Virden
Would you love to have a ceremony near the beach? We totally get it. Visit our Wedding Page.
The best compliment is seeing our clients again and again.
“Thank you so very much for hosting our group these last few days!! Everything was great: The food, the room, the service, etc. Everything was perfect!! Please tell Jerri and the rest of the staff how much we enjoyed having our Planning Session at the Virden Center and how much we’re looking forward to coming back in two years!!
Thank you!!”
Recreation, museums, shopping, and the beach (of course)
There is no shortage of things to do in and around Lewes. Getting around is easy on bike, foot, or boat. Enjoy the town’s quaintness and history, coffee shops, restaurants, museums, and boutiques. Tax-free outlet shopping is all around and nearby Cape Henlopen State Park, with its preserved natural beauty and miles of shoreline, offers walking, biking, bird watching, dolphin spotting, kayaking, fishing or simply relaxing on the beach.
Venue Services & Specifications
Capacity
5,200 plus sq. ft. of private and classroom-style meeting spaces
Tented patio
23 overnight rooms in two on-site lodges
Expansive grounds
Services & Amenities
Event Planning
An Event Manager will work with you from start to finish.
Catering
Full catering services available.
Audio-Visual Services
Everything you could need. View List
Business Services
From copies to stationery supplies, anything to get the job done.
Plus
Ample free parking
High-speed WiFi
Tented patio
Hospitality Room
Lodging & Area Attractions
Lodging
On-site accommodations:
- 23 rooms, 3 configurations
- Two twin beds
- Queen bed with a twin bed
- Queen bed with a pull-out twin bed
- Screened porch overlooking a protected marshland
- TV with 50 channels
- Coffee maker
- Private bathrooms with linens and toiletries
- Mini-refrigerator
- Microwave ovens
- Hospitality Room with kitchenette available for use as an adjoining suite to an overnight room or as a gathering place for after-meeting socializing
Area Attractions
Historic town of Lewes
Cape Henlopen State Park
Lewes Beach
Rehoboth Beach
Tax-free shopping and outlets
Craft Breweries
View Floor Plans and
Seating Capacities
View Catering Menu
Work directly with one of our Event Managers
Our personal event managers have a combined 20 years of experience in hospitality. We work one-on-one with you to:
- Strategize your objectives
- Select the right capabilities for your meeting or event
- Handle all the details from start to finish
- Guide you every step of the way
- Keep your budget in mind
Catch up on industry insights and meeting trends at beach retreats.
How Personal Event Managers Are Key to Successful Events
Our Conference Services Event Management team offers insights into how they provide the most important element to an event – service.
Rebuilding Client Relationships Stronger Than Ever
In-person events are back. But in a simultaneously “post-pandemic” and work-from-home era, how can meeting planners build strong relationships with clients?
Incorporating Wellness Into Your Meetings Helps Attendees Thrive
Promoting wellness at your conferences, meetings, and events tells your attendees that you care about their well-being.
Start planning today with one of our Event Managers.
University of Delaware Conference Services
N E W A R K C A M P U S
Clayton Hall Conference Center
100 David Hollowell Drive, Newark DE 19716
(302) 831-2214
The Tower Audion & Atrium at STAR
100 Discovery Blvd., Newark DE 19713
(302) 831-2214
L E W E S C A M P U S
The Virden Retreat Center
1155 College Drive, Lewes DE 19958
Overnight Lodge A: 1183 College Drive
Overnight Lodge B: 1181 College Drive
(302) 645-4100
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